The reference library that we’ve started up in the village of Hoja is set for a larger presentation next summer. Plans have been drawn for an unfolding structure to host the books on a shelving system, to be constructed this winter. We’ve also started to receive donations of books, from both organisations, publishers, and private persons.

A number of books come from ABF, the workers educational association, organisers of study groups all over the country, and hosts of the annual Socialist Forum in Stockholm. Above left: Pa Promenad Med Master Palm by Erik Wiklund, illustrated by Sara Granér – on how to organise public talks, debates and roundtable discussions before an audience. Above right: Sockerbetan Pa Faltet Och Pa Bruket – documenting a studygroup on sugarbeets (one of the more common crops in our region).

Above right: The Secret Gardener by Elin Unnes – on smallscale self sufficiency from an allotment. Above left: Den Arbetsfria Tradgarden by Ruth Stout and Ingrid Olausson – on a workfree garden through mulching.

When we arranged a screening last month on the invitation of an urban gardening project in Stockholm, we asked the organiser artist Malin Lobell for a reading list, which we’ve then tried to follow when buying up books for the library. The list looks like this:

Books on Urban Gardening:

Gatsmart odling by Ulrika Flodin Furås

The secret gardener by Elin Unnes

Konsten att odla staden by Sara Danielsson

Any book by Lena Israelsson

Books on Art and Gardening:

Victory gardens by Amy Franceschini

The edible front lawn by Fritz Haeg

Books on Forrest Gardening:

Creating a forrest garden by Martin Crawford

How to make a forrest garden by Patrick Whitefield

How to grow perennial vegetables by Martin Crawford

Books on Self Sufficiency:

Self sufficiency by John Seymor

The secret gardener by Elin Unnes

Självhushållning på Djupadal by Mandelmanns Trädgårdar

Some of these have been easy to find, others more difficult. Victory Gardens, which documents an art project by an old friend of ours, Amy Franceschini from San Francisco, seemed to be rare and, if available at all, prohibitively expensive.

But when arranging a talk last week, for the Living Archives project in Malmo, we were presented with this book as a donation to our library, from producer Veronica Wiman.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to organisations, publishers, and private persons who’ve provided both tips on essential reading and donated books for the library.